On the road to the Canadian culinary championships

Regina chef Milton Rebello (right) is the only Saskatchewan chef to ever place at the national Gold Medal Plates Canada Culinary Championships, bringing home a bronze medal in February 2013. He's seen here with that year's gold medal winner, Marc St. Jacques from Toronto's Auberge du Pommier (centre), and the silver medal winner, Jamie Stunt from Oz Kafe in Ottawa.Brian Chambers

They’re going for the gold – the Gold Medal Plates, that is – Canada’s culinary equivalent of the Olympics.

Seven chefs – six from the Queen City and one from Shaunavon – will compete in Regina on Oct. 28 for the regional title in the exclusive Gold Medal Plates culinary competition in support of Canadian Olympic athletes.

Joel Williams of The Capitol Restaurant and Cocktail Bar-

The regional gold medal winner will go on to compete nationally in Kelowna in February.

Vying for the gold medal are Regina chefs Joel Williams of the Capitol restaurant and Cocktail Bar, Destiny Slobodian of the Copper Kettle, Tim Davies of The Willow On Wascana, Curtis Toth of DoubleTree by Hilton, Parveen Singh of Caraway Grill, and Michael Zech of the Queensbury Convention Centre at Evraz Place. Competing from Shaunavon is Garrett Thienes of Harvest Eatery and Fresh Market.

Destiny Slobodian of The Copper KettleMichael Squier /
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To date, the only Saskatchewan chef to place at the national Gold Medal Plates Canada Culinary Championships was Milton Rebello, who brought home the bronze medal in 2013.

Tim Davies of The Willow on Wascana-

“They have got to be really creative, because they’re given budgets and they have to pair with their wines,” explained Regina event co-chair Wayne Morsky. “They present these masterpieces. And when you walk up to them, it’s like ‘This is my piece of art.’ And it’s really exciting to watch them explain the creativity and the thought pattern that went into it.”

Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded regionally, but only the 10 gold medallists from across the country are invited to compete at the national championship, where the Canadian Culinary Chef of the Year is named. Winners can’t compete the following year.

“(Chefs) really don’t have an avenue where they can do these kinds of things, compared to what athletes do, so it’s great for the culinary community,” Morsky said.

Curtis Toth of DoubleTree by Hilton-

In addition to celebrating Canadian excellence, the dinners raise much-needed funds for the Canadian Olympic Foundation. Founded in 2003, Gold Medal Plates events have raised approximately $11 million nationally.

Because of the connection to the foundation, Olympic athletes attend the culinary events and share their stories.

“We try to get as many local Olympians as possible at each dinner,” Morsky said, noting that this year’s master of ceremonies is Saskatchewan’s two-time Olympic gold medal speed skater Catriona LeMay Doan. “She talks about how thankful they are to have this funding from our Gold Medal Plates to accelerate their careers, so they can make it to the podium at the Olympics.”

The Regina fundraiser, being held at the Conexus Arts Centre, “is based around the four pillars of culinary, fine wine, musicians and athletics,” Morsky said.

Parveen Singh of Caraway Grill-

The evening’s entertainment includes four talented Canadian musicians – Bill Cuddy, lead singer of Blue Rodeo, Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, Barney Bentall of the Legendary Hearts and fiddler Anne Lindsay.

Auction items include trips with Olympic athletes and Canadian musicians.

One of the smaller, more-intimate Gold Medal Plates events (200 guests, compared with some dinners with 700), the Regina dinner is expected to raise between $50,000 and $80,000, Morsky estimated.

Tickets are $350, available through the Gold Medal Plates Regina website. Tables of 10 with an Olympic athlete sitting with you are $5,000.

“The uniqueness is you don’t go and sit at a table, like a typical dinner,” Morsky explained. “You’re testing the food, and walking around the atrium, and meeting people. And then we move you into the other part for the dessert and entertainment, and the announcement of the prize winners. It’s kind of different that way – there’s lots of mingling with people.

Garrett Thienes of Harvest Eatery and Fresh MarketVanko Dimitrov /
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“This year, we’ve got a very new slate of competitors. So, it’s a great way to find out about some of the great restaurants you might not know about in town, and a great way to mix and mingle with Olympians. They all have their medals with them.”

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